We’re here!
China has been a good experience so far. There were many English signs, so we found
our way through the Beijing airport quite easily. Our guide picked us up and took us to The Presidential
Hotel. Our first afternoon and evening
(Wednesday) Yulin took us on the subway, then on a city bus, and then walking
for a bit until we got to a mall. She
and I had our nails done, and while she settled in for a traditional Chinese
massage (which looked very painful to me!) Dean and I wandered throughout the
shopping centre. I found this very cute
little dress for Bronwyn.
We took a taxi back to the hotel that evening – and I can
rarely if ever remember being that afraid in my life. I have NO idea how the driver fit that car
into the spaces he did, nor how he didn’t kill several pedestrians in our
way. Many times it seemed impossible
that we would make it – but we did of course.
Before we left Canada, a girlfriend gave me a card reminding me to be
“intentional” and “in-the-moment” each day.
As our taxi driver zoomed in and out of traffic I found myself
whispering “Oh Jesus!” and “I don’t want to be in this moment! I want this moment to be over!”
We have been able to skype with the kids back home and
seeing them each morning and evening has been really helpful to my peace of
mind. THANK YOU Diane who is staying
with our kids right now!
Thursday we exchanged our US money into Renminbi (and felt
extremely conspicuous as the bank put all the stacks of bills into a paper
shopping bag with handles, that had their Bank of China logo all over it, for
us to carry as we walked all the way back to our hotel). Later in the day we met up with my good
friend Cindy and her mother, as well as another couple from B.C. Turns out – this couple knows Dean’s cousins
well, where they live in B.C. Small
world.
We went to a traditional Chinese restaurant together and we
so enjoyed this experience. We had a
private room with a round table. The
food was on a lazy susan in the middle, and we just spun it until the dish we
wanted was in front of us to take from.
Outside our door the waiter and waitresses hollered and called out for
who knows what, and in our cozy room we shared our adoption stories and listen
to Yulin tell us more about herself and FOI.
Friday was a wonderful Beijing experience. We started out at 9:30 in the morning with
our guide, Faye, along with Cindy and Elaine.
We took the subway to Old Beijing and took the Hutong Tour – including
rickshaw rides, climbing the Drum Tower and watching an awesome drumming
performance, walking along the river bridges, exploring the courtyard living
spaces and eating at an Chinese Yoshinoya restaurant.
We rested a bit in the later afternoon, and then enjoyed
dinner at Judehuatian – where we cooked our own dinner over a propane element
in the middle of our table. It turned
out delicious!
We will spend Saturday and Sunday here in Beijing yet, and
early early Monday morning we fly to Xi’an and get Bronwyn.
More to follow soon!
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